Senator Kearney has served the 9th Senate District since 2005. He is the Ranking Minority Member on the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee and the Judiciary-Civil Justice Committee. His committe memberships also include Finance and Finacial Institutions, and Ways and Means and Economic Development.

Senator Kearney studied English at Dartmough College, earning an AB degree. At the University of Cincinnati, College of Law he earned a J.D.

He has been honored by Who's Who Among African Americans, and was awarded the U.S. District Court Ohio Attorney Service Award, Cincinnati Family of the Year and Cincinnati Business Courier Top 40 Under 40 Business Leaders.